Today Secretary Shulkin provided a year-end statement focused on VA accomplishments for 2017. The text is below and there is a link here to see his accompanying video message: youtu.be/1I8d_nMFUl4 Happy Holidays! 2017 has been a year of accomplishments for the Department of Veterans Affairs and this is a perfect time to reflect on, acknowledge, and […]

This Saturday, Dec. 16, volunteers will place holiday wreaths to honor and remember America’s Veterans at more than 100 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries as part of the annual Wreaths Across America event. Now in its 12th year at VA national cemeteries and state Veterans cemeteries, the Wreaths Across America campaign was created by […]

Today the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the inaugural Mayor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide among service members, Veterans and their families. The goal of the Mayor’s Challenge is to eliminate suicide by using a comprehensive public health approach […]

Underscoring a key milestone in VA’s efforts to modernize its infrastructure, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) marked the reopening of its newly renovated Lafayette Building at 811 Vermont Ave., in Washington, D.C., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility Dec. 11. The 11-year renovation project consolidates VA’s footprint from four buildings into one […]

As part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) ongoing efforts to modernize and improve Veterans’ experience with the disability claims process, VA unveiled its latest enhancements to the Decision Ready Claims (DRC) program, which will expand the pool of Veterans, surviving spouses and service members eligible to participate in the program. “These enhancements […]

Kentucky National Guard member Alan Howe was in a field artillery unit, tasked to be deployed to an army military police unit in Afghanistan. “At the time, I was wearing contacts and glasses,” says Howe, who served in the National Guard for 15 years. “I didn’t want the upkeep of contacts, and I didn’t want […]

Today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that it will use two innovative treatments to ease the everyday challenges associated with living with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “We know that for a small group of Veterans, a traditional approach to health care may not be the most effective,” […]

There will be absolutely no change in the funding to support our homeless programs. We will not be shifting any homeless program money to the Choice program. The President has increased VA homeless program funding by $66 million in his fiscal year 2018 budget. Over the next six months, I will solicit input from our […]

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced a partnership with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to encourage Veterans to consider pet ownership and volunteer opportunities with community organizations, including local animal shelters and humane societies in an effort to pair Veterans with rescued animals. This announcement represents the latest example of […]

President Donald J. Trump is working to ensure his Administration fulfills its commitment to America’s veterans so they receive the care they deserve. Under the President’s leadership, we have enacted major reform bills including Accountability and Whistleblower Protection, the Forever GI Bill, and Appeals Modernization, among others. I am pleased that Congress is working on […]